On the evening of July 28, Downtown Fayetteville will come alive with its monthly 4th Friday festivities. Local restaurants, shops, galleries and museums host special events and extend their normal hours. Vendors and performers fill the streets, making a stroll through beautiful Downtown new and lively.

4th Friday focuses on showcasing the arts and entertainment in Downtown Fayetteville. This monthly event is a perfect opportunity for new and longtime residents to explore what Fayetteville has to offer. It runs from 6–10 p.m. 4th Friday is in large part organized by the Downtown Alliance, a not-forprofit membership advocacy organization. Local business owners work together to revitalize and strengthen Fayetteville through business recruitment and support, economic development, marketing and special events. The DTA organizes several events throughout the year.

The Arts Council kicks off the opening of the “Cultural EXPOsure” exhibition. Enjoy a Cultural Cabaret featuring Scottish music. The short performances highlight the community’s diverse cultural arts industry. The opening reception lasts from 7  to 9 p.m.

The Ellington-White Gallery, at 113 Gillespie St., continues its exhibition “Resemblance: New Works by Soni Martin.” See the art from 7 to 9 p.m. Martin is a local professor and artist.

From 7-8:45 p.m., the Headquarters Library, located at 300 Maiden Ln., will be filled with lively music, stories and discussion. This month, The Piney Woods Boys play Southern traditional string band music. This style of music has its roots in “oldtime” and bluegrass music genres. The Piney Woods Boys, back by popular demand, are a local favorite. This program is sponsored by Systel. Light refreshments provided.

During 4th Fridays, Fayetteville’s history is on display. The Market House in the center of Downtown is open to the public from 6-10 p.m. and admission is free. A National Historic Landmark, this iconic building serves as a small museum for local history. It has a permanent exhibit called “A View from the Square: A History of Downtown Fayetteville” and a rotating exhibit that changes monthly. The rotating exhibits focus on different aspects of local history. Past exhibits have included “Scottish Heritage,” “Vintage Postcards” and “Banking.”

The Fayetteville Area Transportation Museum, located at 325 Franklin St., is a restored 1890 Railroad Depot and includes exhibits that rotate frequently. The exhibits cover local history from pre-history to the early 20th century. The museum is open from 6-10 p.m. on 4th Friday, and admission is free. This is a particularly fun place to visit for history buffs interested in trains and cars. Fascinate-U is a great place for families with smaller children to visit.

Fascinate-U is a museum specifically designed for children. The exhibits are designed to be interactive so kids can learn about the world through play. It makes learning vital skills fun and natural. On 4th Friday, admission is free from 7-9 p.m., and kids are usually invited to participate in a free artistic project.

Call the Downtown Alliance at (910) 222-3382 to learn more about 4th Friday.

 

PHOTO: The Piney Woods Boys are set to perform at Headquarters Library on 4th Friday.